Yankees' late-inning disaster against Astros once more showcases why they can’t be considered a World Series team

To say the Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees on Wednesday would be a slight overstatement. 

Much to the angered dismay of Yankee fans, their hated rivals did, in fact, win, but they had some help. As they have done numerous times this year alone, the Yankees once more gave the baseball world a masterclass in blowing a lead, proving yet again that they are their own worst enemy.  

It began when Yankees starter Will Warren left the game in the sixth inning, leaving his team with a 4-2 lead. New York relievers Fernando Cruz and Luke Weaver each took the mound for one inning, giving up one run each in the sixth and seventh. With the lead gone, manager Aaron Boone gave struggling star Devin Williams the nod in the eighth inning. In just two-thirds of an inning, Williams loaded the bases and walked in a run. He left the game having given up three walks and a hit, recording two outs.

Boone then called on Camilo Doval to get the final out. Doval, who has also seen immense struggles since donning a Yankees jersey, gave up a hit, a balk and a wild pitch to score each of his inherited baserunners, all of which were charged to Williams, putting him on the hook for four earned runs.

Down 8-4, the Yankees went into the ninth. Cody Bellinger managed to cut the deficit to just one run with a three-run home run against Bryan Abreu, but like with countless Yankee comebacks, it would not be enough. The Yankees lost the game 8-7 after a questionable strike call.

Had it been a rare occasion when the Yankees came undone in a close game, there would be no cause for concern. However, this has been a defining trait of their season. From bullpen issues to fielding miscues, the Yankees have needlessly turned wins into losses or, at times, failed to overcome easily surmountable deficits. All these factors raise serious questions about their postseason viability.

As a whole, the Yankee bullpen owns a 4.31 ERA, the 10th worst in baseball. Williams, who was a Hall of Fame-level closer in Milwaukee, owns a career-worst 5.60 ERA in 53 innings with New York. Doval, who owned a 3.09 ERA with the Giants before his trade, owns a 4.63 ERA since joining the Yankees (keep in mind he wasn’t charged with any runs Wednesday night). At this point, neither reliever can be considered a reliable option in the postseason. But the relief corps wasn’t the only Yankee flaw on display Wednesday.

Anthony Volpe, who recently came off one of the worst slumps in Yankees history, has fallen by the wayside again, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts before being replaced by pinch-hitter Jasson Dominguez. He is 0-for-7 in the past two games.

Giancarlo Stanton also had some troubles in the outfield grass, recording his first error of the season. And though he can be excused since he is no longer accustomed to playing a position, his error is the 77^th of the year for the Yankees, placing them among the bottom 10 teams in this metric. Errors have been a large problem for the Yankees both this year and last. Most notably, they ended the Yankees' World Series run last season.

With a 77-62 record, the Yankees are on a postseason trajectory. Nonetheless, their many flaws — the erratic bullpen, offensive laggards and sloppy fundamentals — make a consecutive World Series trip doubtful. Make no mistake, the Yankees aren’t an easy team to beat, but it’s often a race to beat them before they beat themselves.